Wall and ceiling construction



' Jan. 29, 1935.`

-1 ..c. PIAZZA WALL AND CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb, 5; 1951 2sheets-sheet 1 I I l l E I l 'mnu-Iii.

Jan. 29, 1935. L. c. PIAZZAC ,1,9895289 WALL AND CEILING CONSTRUCTIONFiled Feba 5, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE to Soundex Corporation,

Application February 5,

13 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to the application of exterior coveringmaterials to a room construction, and is more particularly concernedwith a novel and improved wall and ceiling construction, that is to say,with a novel method and with novel means for attaching covering materialto a wall or to a ceiling.

I employ as covering material a sound correcting substance, consistinggenerally of wood fibres pressed in blocks or slabs and held together bysuitable adhesive binding substance. A block or slab of such materialmay be produced in any imitable and convenient size, and then cut intoslabs or plates of suitable smaller size for attachment to the ceilingor to the wall inithe novel nanner which is disclosed in the presentinvenion.

It will be understood, of course, that the novel construction which Idisclose in the instant case is not limited to the use of any particularsound correcting or sound dissipating substance or material, or, infact, to any particular substance or material. I have mentioned woodfibres pressed in blocks or slabs of suitable size merely for the sakeof giving an example. Any other suitable material or substance eitherfor purely decorative purposes or for correcting acoustics, or both, maybe employed and attached to the ceiling of a room in accordance with-theteaching of my invention. It will likewise be understood that I do notintend to limit the applicability of the invention strictly andliterally to the construction of ceilings or walls. The basic principlesmay also be applied in the construction of structures resembling walls,such as screens or partitions, and thelike. j a

The invention discloses, thereforebroad1y a novel and improved methodand means for attaching exteriorly exposed covering material.

There are several methods ,known and prac-, ticed for attaching suchmaterials to Walls and to ceilings.

For example, one method proposes to attach the material by means ofplaster, thus `merging the same with the underlying rigid buildingstructure. Another method provides a felt padding between the coveringmaterial and the'wall or ceiling structure, securing the material bymeans of nails or screws, or otherwise by means of some convenientadhesive together with nails or screws.

Prior ,structures of the `character intimated above occasion numerousobjections. Either they are too expensive on account of the varioussteps involved in the production'of the covering slabs a corporation1931, Serial No. 513,479

in conjunction with the mounting thereof, or they present otherdifficulties. v

The present invention may be considered a development on the disclosuresin my copending application, Serial No. 499,922, filed December 4, 51930, in which I have shown several embodiments. I shall first give abrief description of these prior embodiments so as to provide a basis onwhich my present invention may be better understood and appreciated. r

In one embodiment of the copending application mentioned above, I haveprovided a structural framework for attachment of the ycover slabs,which comprises a number of channel shaped carrier members attached tothe ceiling or vl5 to the wall structure. Each slab is provided with apair of bracket members having tongues which` project from oppositesides, The attachment of the slabs to the structural framework is bymeans of screws which fasten the projecting tongues of 20 one side ofeach slab to a corresponding carrier member of the structural framework,while the tongues projecting from the opposite side of ,each slab areheld in place by slipping the same under the preceding slab in a row ofslabs. Thus, it is 25 I merely necessary to hook the tongue of one sideof each slab in interlocking engagement with an adjacent slab while thetongues on the other side of the slab are firmly fastened to thecorresponding channel shaped carrier member by means of 30 l screws. v

In another embodiment also disclosed vin `the above mentioned copendingapplication, I. have shown carrier members having depending bars`provided with holes. The slabsare fastened in rows intermediate of thesedepending bars and the fastening of the vslabsv is accomplished by`means of double pointed nails. i

A further embodiment disclosed in the above. mentioned copendingapplication shows the con- 40 struction of .cover slabs each providedwith brackets which maybe embedded in cement or the like. i

Now, the present application has for its principalobject a structurewhich is simplified in design, inexpensive in installation and whichcombines Lall ,the advantages of prior structures While avoiding theirpossible faults.

I provide in one embodiment of my present invention slabs or plates ofsound correcting material and equipped slabs with brackets forattachment to a structural framework without the use of either nails orscrews. All that is neces-- sary for attaching the novel slabs is tolocate a slab in place relative to other slabs and to slip projectingbracket members in place so that the slab is firmly held in place.

mounted on the ceiling or wall structure and comprising a numberofsupporting members in parallel relation to each other. I also provideeach w slab, in one embodiment, with two bracket members. Each of thesebracket members projects from the opposite side of the slab, oneprojection on one side of the slab being lformed into a hook and theother projectionvon the opposite side` being merely-atongue. Theattachment of each slab is accomplished'by slipping the tongues of eachslab between the corresponding "structural frame member and theadjacentslab, thus supporting the slab on one side, whilethe slab issupported on its other side by locking the hook- I like bracket member`into engagement miththe corresponding frame member. In other words, theslabsare positioned by slipping the same in place in interlockingengagement with each other and with"the carrier members without the`useof screws or nails. positioning operation is transversal to the carriermembers and givesv the possibility of adiusting the slabs relative toeach other. I Several embodiments of supporting carrier members aredisclosed, as will be described later on.

Inv another embodiment of the present invention I provide structuralsupporting members for attachment to the ceiling or to the wall andlocated in parallel relation one to the other. Each of these supportingmembers has resilient projections and'each of the lslabs is providedwith grooves on opposite sides for engaging these resilient projectionson the supporting members. 'Ihe attachment of the cover slab isaccomplished by pressing each cover slab in place in the space betweentwo adjacent parallel supporting members and perpendicular thereto. Theresilient projections on the supporting members snap into the grooves onthe cover slabs and holdthe same in place. Y

It will therefore be seen` that the rst mentioned embodiment of thepresent invention pro-y vides a structure whereby the slabs are attachedentirely and attach the slabs securely to the supporting framework bymaking use of resilient projections on the supporting frame members.

- However, if desired, the groove on the slabs may be formed by theattachment of bracket -members or simple strips of suitable material.

Either 'structure presents a novel method of constructing a covering fora wall or ceiling and simplifies 4the mounting thereof considerably. In

the first structure, it is merely vnecessary to slipa covering slab intoplacein interlocking relation with the supporting structure and withpreceding slabs. The use of screws or nails is'en'tirely elimi- Anatedandthe work of mounting is considerably simplied and cheapened. Theslabsmay be adjusted relative to each other in a simple manner.

In case of the second structure, it is merely neces-A sary to provide a'structuraL framework for supporting the cover slab whereby all bracketsand thelike on the slab may be entirely eliminated. All that is requiredis `to press the individual slabs 'into position. Eitherl theV one orthe otherv em bodiment may be used in the practice. Y The rows of slabsare. mounted in eithercase across the entire width of the ceiling or awall, transversely `to the parallel supporting members, until theSpecifically, I provide a structural frameworkwork is finished and theceiling or wall is covered as desired, presenting a neat and cleanappearance.

Various effects can be produced by predetermining the formation of theslabs in accordance with a desired design or pattern. For example, alattice eifect may be produced by arranging cover-l ing slabs of desiredsize accordingly. Theslabs may also be mounted in circular formation ifdesired. These possibilities are obvious and need not be discussed indetail.

It will at once be seen that the basic lprinciples involved in thepresent invention refer fundamentally to the construction of walls orceilings, that is tov say, to the attachmentsof exteriorly exposedcovering material to a structural framework, regardless of the functionof the covering material which may be purely decorative or soundcorrecting. In my invention, the function of the covering material isshown to be sound correcting and decorative at the same time. ,The broadidea, however, disregards the function of the covering slabs entirely;any suitable material of purely decorative character may be attached towalls or to ceilings by following the principles of my invention. Theterm-walL-as used in this specification and in the appended claims,l isintended to cover broadlythe structureof a so that a detail descriptionand the claims maybe readily understood.

One object of` my present invention is concerned with the application ofexteriorly exposed covering material to a wall or to a ceiling and thelike,'comprising a framework, cover slabs, and bracket means on each ofsaid slabs for interlocking sliding engagement with said framework forholding said slabs in place solely by said interlocking engagement.

Another object relates to the provision of co'ver slabsffor exteriorattachment to a wall or the like, and bracket means on said slabsprojecting at one side thereof in form of hooks and the other side intheform of tongues, the hook-like projections furnishing means forinterlocking sliding engagement with the structural framework and thetongues being provided for supportingeach slab in interlocking slidingengagement with an adjacent slab and frame member.

Still another object has t0` do with a wall structure or the like,comprising a supporting. framework, of a plurality of members disposedin parallel to each other, 'resilient'projections on said member, andcover slabs provided" with grooves for engaging the resilientprojections and for thereby locking said slabs in'place relative to saidsupporting framework.

I have enumerated above only the outstan objects of my invention.'I'here 'are other objectswhich will appear as the description v1reference' to which Figure 1 shows a section taken on linel-l.

the accompanying drawings in cin Figurev 2, `and showing supportingcarrier members and cover.- slabs attached theretolby interlockingsliding engagement of brackets provided on the cover slabs;

Figure 2- shows a view of the arrangement taken on line 2 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a detail, namely, a bracket vfor attachment to 'a coverslab such as used in conjunction with arrangement shown in Figures 1 and2;

Figure 4 shows a modification of the supporting carrier member;

Figure 5 is a further embodiment of a supporting member;

Figure 6 represents another embodiment of a supporting member which maybe used in conjunction with previously noted embodiments of theinvention and which is particularly con-A structed with a view torigidity of support;

Figure '7 illustrates a supporting member for the structural frameworkhaving resilient projection for supporting cover slabs without the useof brackets or any other provision;

Figure 8 is a section through an arrangement corresponding to thearrangement shown in Figure 1, but using supporting members such asshown in Figure 7 and slabs provided with suitable grooves forinterlocking engagement with the resilient projections on thesesupporting members. Y

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be seen that I have provided aframework of supporting members disposed parallel to each other and eachattached to the underlying structure of a ceiling or a wall and thelike. Two such supporting members are shown in the drawings, Figure 1,and designated by the numerals I and 2. Each of these supporting memberscomprises two portions. One of these portions is I-shaped vand the otherportion is T-shaped. The I-shaped portion of the member 1 comprises thesides designated by the numerals 3 4 5 and 6 7 8; the correspondingsections of the I-shaped portion of the other member 2 are designated bythe numerals 9 10-11 and 12-13-14. The T-shaped members cooperating withthe I-shaped members are attached to the latter in inverted position, asshown. The T-shaped member cooperating with the supporting member 1comprises the sections designated by the numerals 16-1'7, and theT-'shaped membercooperating with the supporting member 2 comprises thesections 18 19 20. Asis shown in the drawings, the T-shaped members areattached to the I-shaped members in inverted position so as to provideslots on the lower side of the supporting members for receiving certainbracket members as will be described later on. `These slots on the lowerside of the supporting member 1 are designated by the numerals 21 and22, and the corresponding slots in the supporting member 2 as the resultof the attachment of the T-shaped member to the I-shaped member aredesignated bythe numerals 23 and 24.

It will be seen from the drawings, Figure 1, that the portions 3 and 6,as well as the portions 9 and 12 of the supporting members 1 and 2,respectively, are relatively longer, or rather to say wider, than thecorresponding portions 5 8 and 11 14, respectively. The reason'for thisis to be found in the manner of attaching the members 1 and 2 to theunderlying ceiling or wall structure. It will be understood that themembers such as l and 2 may be relatively long and attached to theunderlying structure of a ceiling or of a wall in parallel relation toeach other. 'I'he narrow portion of each of the members, such as 1 and2, points downwardly from the ceiling (incase the construction of theceiling is considered) Therefore, the portions 3 6 and 9 12 of thesupporting members, such as l and 2, respectively, are provided for theattachment to the underlying wallor ceiling structure. The attac'hmentmay be by means of screws through the wide sections 3 6 and 9 12. Inorder to attach the supporting members, such as 1 and 2, conveniently tothe underlying structure, it is necessary that the attachment by meansof screws or the like is not obstructed, and the base portions 3 6 and 912 of the supporting members are., therefore, wider than the oppositelylocated portions 5 8 and 11 14. This construction makes it possible toattach the members such as 1 and 2, to the underlying wall or ceilingstructure conveniently without any obstruction. The holes for the screwswill be located outside the lateral margin of the narrow portions 5 8and 11 l4.

The supporting members are shown tov be constructed of sheet iron, bentand formed suitably as above described, and then assembled to providethe necessary support having a slot at its lower end. It will beunderstood, of course, that I have shown the construction to be of sheetiron, suitably formed into the desired shape, merely for illustrating anexample of how .the invention may be realized. 'I'he supporting membersmay be constructed differently.

Each of the slabs, such as the slabs shown in Figures '1 and 2 at 25,26, and 27, is provided with bracket members such as the bracket member28 which is attached to the slab 26 by means of the nails 29 and 30. Thebracket member is a strip of sheet iron, slotted at the ends. One wingof the left end is bent downwardly as indicated by the reference numeral31 in Figure .1, and one wing of the other slotted end of the bracket 28is also bent downwardly as indicated by the reference numeral 32 inFigure 1. These downwardly extending wings of the bracket members suchas 28, engagegrooves such as 33, 34, in the slab 26 and provide meansfor attaching the bracket to the slab. The attachment is made by meansof nails, as indicated by the reference numerals 29 and 30. Theremaining wing or tongue on the left end of the bracket, such as 28, isbent to form a hook, such as is indicated in Figure l by the referencenumeral 35. The remaining wing on the other end of the bracket projectslaterally from the slab as indicated by the reference numeral 36 inFigure 1.

In Figure 3 is shown a bracket, such as the bracket 28 described abovein conjunction with the slab 26. Parts corresponding to like parts shownin Figure 1- are designated in Figure 3 by like reference numerals.

It will be seen that a bracket such as the one discussed above has acentral portion 28 and two downwardly extending wings such as 31 and 32for engaging grooves in a slab such as 26, as was discussed above. Thebracket is attached to the slab by means of nails which may extendthrough corresponding holes 37 in'each of the wings 31` and 32. From theleft end of the central portion 28 of the bracket extends a hook likeportion numbered 35, and from the right end projects a tongue indicatedby the reference numeral 36.

Referring now to Figure 1, as well as to Figure 2, and bearing in mindthe detail construction of the bracket shown in Figure 3 and abovedescribed, it will be seen that I have provided on each of the slabs twobrackets. tached to the slab 25 are indicated by the reference numerals38 and 39; the brackets attached The brackets atf to the slab 26 areindicated bythe reference numerals 40 and 28 and the brackets attachedto the slab 27 are indicated by the reference numerals 41 and 42. Of thebrackets 38 and 39 attached to the slab 25 only the right ends areshown. 'Of the brackets 41 and42 which are attached to the slab 27, onlythe left ends are shown in the drawings. The tongues 43 and 44 of thebrackets 38 and 39, respectively, are blank projections such` as the.projection 36 shown in Figure 3. 'I'he left ends of the brackets 40 and28 `are formed into hooks as indicated by Athe referencej numerals 43'and 35` in Figure 2. EachA ceding slab and the corresponding structuralsupporting member, and to hook the opposite ends of the bracket intosliding engagement with the slot on the adjacent supporting member asshown in the drawings. The' slabs will thus be securely supported andheld in place without the aid of screws or nails or the like. Referringspecically to the drawings, Figure 2, it will be seen that the hookprojections such as 45 and 46 are in interlocking sliding engagementwith -the slots 23 paredvvith (Figure 1) of the supporting member 2which is fastened to the ceiling or to the wal1. These hook projectionsare the extensions of the bracket members 41 and 42 which are fastenedto the slab 27. Thus, the slab 27 is held in place in the assembly ofthe ceiling or of the wall by the hook projections 45 and 46. The otherside (not shown) of the slab. 27 is supported in interlocking slidingengagement with the preceding slab and the corresponding supportingmember.

The slab 26 is put in place as follows: The bracket members 40 and 28are transposed in their position relative to the: slab 26 when comthepositionsv of the' bracket members 41 and 42 of the preceding slab 27.The attachment of slab 26 providedwith these brackets 40 and 28, in theassembly, adjacent to the slab 27, is accomplished by slipping theprojecting tongues 47 and 36 between the lower surface of the supportingmember 2 and the slab 27 as is particularly shown in Figure 1. The rightside of the .slab 26 will thus be held against displacement by theprojecting tongues.47 and 36. 'I'he left side of the slab 26 from whichthe hooklike projections 43' and 35 extend, as shown in the drawingswill be supported on the corresponding carrier member, such as 1, byslipping the hook-like projections 43' and 35 into engagement with theslot 2l on the supporting member 1.

.The slab 26 is now rmly supported, on one side '1 by direct slidingattachment tothe corresponding supporting member such as member 1,- bymeans of the hook-like projections on the brackets 40 and 28, and theopposite side is supported in interlocking sliding engagement with thepreceding slabinthisparticular row.

. The next slab in the row will be the slab 25. This slab corresponds inconstruction to the slab 2'1 and also to the slab 2s except tp thelocation of the bracket members 38 and 39. These bracket members arewith respect to the it is desired to assemble the slabsbracket members40 and 28 on'the preceding slab. The attachment of the slab 25 isexactly the same as the attachment of the preceding slab, that is tosay,one side'of the slab will be supported by the tongues as 43 and 44in interlocking vsliding engagement with the preceding slab 26, whilethe opposite side will be supported in direct interlocking slidingengagement with the corresponding supporting carrier member on theceiling or wall structure.

The slabs are, therefore, identical as to their general constructionexcept that the .bracket members on each slab are transposed with regardto the preceding slab. In other words, every alternate `slab is. alikeyin construction. The bracket members on the slabs are, of course, alikein construction.

The assembly of the ceiling structure as above described, proceeds lfromright to the left. It is. Qf course, immaterial whether the attachmentis started -from right to left or from left to right, due tothe factthat I have provided engaging slots onboth sides of the supportingmembers, such as 1 and. 2, and it is, therefore, possible to proceedwith the mounting of the slabs in either direction. The slabs will bemounted in rows transversely tothe supporting member, one row adjacentto the other. The mounting is simple and efcient and the use of screwsor nails for attaching the individual slabs to the supporting' structureis entirely eliminated. The sliding interlocking attachment of the slabsrepresents an adjustable feature whereby each slab may be exactlylocated and readjusted relative to the other slabs.

It will, therefore, be seen that I have provided, in the embodimentabove describedia very simple and efficient construction of a ceiling orof a wall and the like which will facilitate the mounting of thecovering slabs and will provide for a neat and clean work which does notrequire any expert' labor and eliminates a great many steps which wereheretofore `necessary for the purpose of mounting the cover slabs inplace. Y

An examination of the drawings in Figure 1 will show that one ofthe/slots on each of the supporting members such as 1 and 2.aname1y, theslots 22 and 24, respectively, is superfluous. I have. provided twoslots on each of the supporting members in order to make it possible tostart the mounting of the cover slabs either from the left or from theright as desired.

A modification and simplification of the supporting member is possibleand may be carried out according to the structures which I have 'shownparticularly in Figures 4, 5 and 6.A

Referring ilrst to Fig. 4, this figure vshows a portion of a supportingmember for attachment to the underlying structure of a wall or ceiling,having a base section designated by thereference numeral 50, a ridge 51,and a lower slotted portion 52. This supporting member may be formed ofsheet metal or constructed in any other desir- -I able manner. Theattachment may be carried out by means of screws which may extendthrough holes such as 53 and 54. 'I'he lower slotted portion '52 isprovided `for receiving'the hook-like extensions on the bracketsprovided on the various cover slabs discussed previously.

Another embodiment of a supporting member of this character is shown inFigure 5. This supporting member is again made of sheet metal suitablyformed into the shape as shown, and comprises a base section 55, a ridge56 and a lower` l slotted portion 571 'I'he attachment, as in the formercase shown in Figure 4, may be made by meansof screws or nails which'may extend through the holes such as 58 and 59. The ridge portion 56may be strengthened by means of riveting or spot welding or in any othersuitable and approved manner. It will be seen that the upper part of theslotted portion 57 is longer than the lower part, and-curved slightlyupwardly, as is indicated by the reference numeral 60. This curved part60 serves thepurpose of guiding the corresponding hook-like extension onthe brackets of the slabs as they are brought into locking engagementwith the portion 57. With the curved upper part 60 it is possible toslide the hook-like extensions neatly into place as they will slip alongthe curved portion 60 and will be guided into position.

'I'he embodiment of a supporting member shown in Figure 6 is along thelines4 of the supporting members shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with theexception that I have in this construction changed the ridge portion insuch a manner as to give more structural strength to the supports. Thissupporting member comprises a base section designated by the numeral 61.The material isshaped so as to form two opposing ridges 62and 63. Thelower end of the supporting member forms again a slot 64 With the upperpart of this slot longer than the lower part. The purpose for having theupper part longer than the lower member is again to form a guide for thebracket so that the same slips easily into place. The two sides 62` and63 may be spot welded at the points of junction as is indicated in thedrawings. It will be seen-that, in this latter construction, any lateralforce will be taken up by either one of the side members 62 and 63 andadequately compensated. A bending out of shape of the supporting memberis, therefore, in this construction, not easily possible. It will beunderstood; of course, that the upper side 65 may again be curvedupwardly, as shown in Figure 5, for providing a. still smoother guidefor the bracket members and for thereby facilitating the attachment.

It will be seen from the above description of the embodiments shown inFigures 4, 5, and 6 that the construction of the supporting member maybe simplified or changed in various ways. I have indicated only a fewpossible modiiications of this structure. Other modifications maysuggest themselves easily to those experienced in the art. Either of thegeneral structures shown in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6, respectively,presents advantages and has its virtues. They may be used as occasionand local conditions demand.

In Figure 7, I have shown the structure of a supporting member forattachment to the underlying structure of a ceiling or a wall, and thelike, which presents a further concept of attaching the cover slabs. Thesupporting member shown in this Figure 7 has a base section designatedbythe numeral 68. It is bent in suitable shape as s hown in thedrawings, with two sides 69 and 70 forming a structure of relativelygreat strength. The two sides 69 and 70 meet at their lower ends and areformed into hook-like projections such as 71 and 72. Slots such as 73and 74 are provided throughout the entire length of the projections, asindicated in the drawings, so as to make the projections resilient. Thesides 69 and 70 may be spot welded or riveted together, if desired.However, it is not absolutely necessary to provide for a rigid structureby spot Welding the sides 69 and 70 as will appear clear from thefollowing description of the assembly. The attachment of each of thesupporting members to the underlying ceiling or wall structure may becarried out by means of screws extending through holes such as 75 and76.

A suitable number of such supporting members as shown in Figure 7 isattached to the underlying Wall or ceiling structure in parallelrelation to each other. In Figure 8 I have shown a portion of such aceiling structure in cross section illus- Vtrating the relation of twosupporting members relative to each other and the relation and positionof the covering slab relative to each other and to the supportingmember. 'Ihe supporting members in Figure 8 are indicated. by thereference numerals 77 and 78. The attachment of these members to theunderlying ceiling structure may be by means of screws as indicated bythe referencev numerals 79-80 and 81-82.l The cover slabs are indicatedby the reference numerals 83, 84 and 85. On opposite sides of theseslabs are provided grooves such as indicated by the reference numerals86, 87-88, and 89. The purpose of these grooves lis to hook the coverslabs in place in engagement with the resilient hook-like projection onthe structural supports such as 77 and 78. These hook-like projectionson the structural supports are indicated in the drawings, Figure 8, bythe reference numerals 90-91 and 92-93. These hook-like projections areresilient dueto the property of the material and due to the slots suchas 73 and 74 as indicated in the Figure 7.

These lstructural supporting members are mounted on the underlyingceiling or wall structure in parallel to each other in a distance fromeach other which is determined by the width of the slabs. When thesupporting members are thus mounted on the ceiling, the attachment ofthe slabs can take place. The slabs are attached by 'simply sliding orpushing the same into place against the pressure of the resilientprojections such as 90-91 and 92-93. Assuming for example, that thecover slab 83 hasA been slipped into position with its grooves such as86 engaging the corresponding resilient projections on the supportingmember such as 77, the next slab in the row is indicated by thereference numeral 84 and is also provided with oppositely locatedgrooves such as 87 and 88. It is simply pressed into position againstthe force of the resilient spring members 91 and 92. These resilientmembers will recede when the slab 84 is pressed into place and willnally snap into the lgrooves 87 and 88 and locate themselves withrelation to the slab 84 as is indicated in the drawings. The slab 84 isnow in its proper place. f

'I'he next slab in the row, being indicated by the numeral 85, ispressed into position exactly in the same manner as discussed inconnection with the slabs 83 and 84, and will assume the position asindicated in the drawings. The succeeding slabs in a row aresuccessively placed in position until the row is finished. 'I'here willbe a number of rows of slabs such as 83, 84 and disposed transversely tothe parallel .supporting members such as 77 and 78. In case of covermaterial such as tile, or the like, the grooves may be provided directlyin each individual slab. In j advantage o1 further facilitating the workof 75 mounting the slabs and eliminates the use of brackets on theslabs. It will be recalled that I have mentioned that the sides 69 and'10 of the supporting structure shown in Figure 7 may be spot welded inorder to provide a rigid lstructure. -When the assembly shown in Figure1 is examined closely, it will be seen that such spot welding is notabsolutely necessary in View of the fact that the structural rigidity isobtained simply by the location of the slabs relative to the supportingmembers. The sides of each of the supporting members will be held inplace by the engagement of the resilient hook-like projections with thegrooves in the slabs.

These grooves may be formed in various'ways, for example, as mentionedpreviously, they may be formed by the attachment of a grooved metalstrip or the like on opposite sides of the slab. Another way of formingthe grooves is to cut out on each side of the slab an angular recess andto attach strips across the bottom of the slab which -project fromeitherside-thereof beyond the cutout portion ofthe slab. A plate ofsuitable material may be substituted for the strips if desired.

I have shown certain embodiments of the invent/ion, not for the purposeof showing the limitations of the inventive idea but merely toillustrate certain ways in which it may be carried out inpractice.Modifications may be devised as toA details and as to the entireassembly of the embodiment shown in the drawings without a1- tering thespirit and the scope of the invention. I therefore Want to have itunderstood that I do not intend-to be limited to the details shown anddescribed, except as they are recited `as essential in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed as my invention is:-

1. In the construction of a wall and the like, a structural frameworkcomprising a plurality Vof supporting members disposed in parallelrelation to each other, slabs of covering material for attachmentl tosaid supporting members interme- -diate thereof in abutting relationshipand means on said supporting members for holding said slabs,

and cooperating means on said slabs for engag- 'ing said rst means onsaid supporting members,

said engagement beingieffected solely by sliding said slabs intoposition relative to said supporting members, wherebyA said meansinterlock to hold said slabs in engagement ,with said supportingmembers.

2. In the construction of a Wall having a substructure and a pluralityof supporting strips disposed thereon in parallel relation to eachothercover slabsV for attachment to said strips in abuttingrelationship, brackets on said slabs, and hook means on said bracketsfor interlocking sliding engagement with said strips, said engagementbeing effected solely by sliding said slabs into position-'relative tosaid strips in a direction transverse to said strips and in a planesubstantially parallel to said substructure.

3. The construction of a cover unit for exterior attachment to asupporting structure, comprising a slab, bracket means thereon, andextensions of said bracket means projecting from opposite sides of saidslab, the extensions on one side being formedinto hooks for mountingsaid slab in interlocking sliding engagement with said supportingstructure. l

4,'The construction of a cover unit for exterior attachment to a wallhaving a supporting structure, comprising a slab, grooves. on oppositesides or said slab, and bracket means mounted in said 'grooves andlaterally extending be'- yond said sides of the slab, the bracket meanson one side ofs'aid slab being formed into hooks for mounting saidslabin interlocking sliding engagement with said supporting structure.

5. In the construction of a Wall, a plurality of supporting members,cover slabs for attachment thereto, means provided on said slabs andmeans on said supporting members for interlocking engagement with saidmeans on said slabs, said engagement being eiiected solely by slidingsaid slabs into position relative to said supportingmembers in adirection perpendicular to said supporting members.

6. The-construction of a cover `unit for exterior attachment to asupporting structure, comprising a slab, bracket means thereon,attaching tongues provided on said bracket means fastened to oppositesides of said slab, and extensions of said bracket means projecting fromsaid oppo-v site sides of said slab, the extensions on one side beingformed into lhooks for mounting said slab in interlockingslidinglengagement with said supporting structure.

'7. The constructionof a cover unit for exterior attachment to asupporting structure, comprising a slab, bracket means thereon,.andextensions of said bracket means disposed in the same plane andprojecting from opposite sides of-said slab, the extensions on one sidebeing formed into hooks for mounting said slab in interlocking slidingengagement with said supporting structure.

` 8. The construction of a cover unit for exterior attachment to asupporting structure, comprising a slab, bracket means disposed upon aface of said slab, andextensions of said bracket means projecting fromopposite sides of said slab,the extensions on one side being formed intohooks for` mounting said slab in -interlocking sliding engagement withsaid supporting structure.

9. The construction of a'cover unit for exterior attachment to asupporting structure comprising a slab, bracket means disposed upon aface of said slab, attaching tongues struck from said bracket meansfastened to opposite sides of said slabs, and extensions of said bracketmeans disposed' in the same Aplane projecting from said opposite sidesof said slab, the extensions on one side being formed into hooks formounting` said slabin interlocking sliding engagement with saidsupporting structure.

10. In the construction of a wall, a plurality 'of supporting members,cover slabs'for attachon said supporting members for interlockingengagementiwith said grooves, said engagement being effected solely bysliding said-slabs into position relative to said supporting members ina direction perpendicular to said supporting members.

11. Ina construction of a wall'having a substructure, a plurality ofsupporting members disposed on said substructure, cover slabs-forattachment to said supporting memberin rows extending transverselythereto, and-brackets on each of said slabs extending from oppositesides thereof, the extensions on one side being' formed into hooks,- theattachment of said slabs being effected solely by-sliding each of saidslabs inte position relative to said supportingV members in' a directiontransversely to said members and in a plane substantially parallelthereto,"whereby said bracket hooks on -one side of `said slabs willinterlock with said supporting membersand the relative to each other,the method of mounting cover slabs having brackets extending fromopposite sides of said slabs with the extensions on one side formed intohooks exteriorly of said 10'- framework in parallel rows transverselythereto consisting solely in sliding the hooks of each cover slabintointerlocking engagement with a' corresponding supporting member andsimultaneously sliding the extensions on the other side of said slabinto interlocking engagement with-a preceding slab.

13. The construction of a cover unit for exterior attachment to asupporting structure comprising a slab of sound insulating material,

, bracket means thereon, extensions onsaid bracket means projecting fromopposite sides of said slab, the extensions on one side being formedinto hooks for mounting said slab in interlocking sliding engagementWith-said supporting structure.

LOUIS C. PIAZZA.

